If the gun is used to intimidate during the commission of a crime or as a "solution to an argument", etc., I would say yes. If it is used to protect yourself from someone who means you bodily harm (of the lethal kind) I would have to say, no.

What makes police officers and military personnel and exception rather than the rule?

Those who defend their homes, no. Those who do that to terrorize their enemies, yes.

In my opinion - yes! except from what like doggie said : too defend there homes - no

I think the simple concept of courage VS cowardice is pretty much overwhelmed by relativity, perception and motivation. And if not, if someone decides to use a melee weapon or their fists to terrorize others, they may not be cowards, but they're either stupid or crazy. I mean, if I had a handgun and some crazy dude breaks in here with a katana and challenges me to a sword fight, you better believe Imma whip out my firearm. Coward or not, I enjoy my life as it currently is. :/

I think that the people who are afriad because others have firearms are the real cowards. A armed society is a safer society. If law abiding citizens cant have guns anymore. Then everyone is fair game to the criminals, which are going to carry them anyway. I have had to pull my gun before. I can assure you that I am no coward.

It all depends on the context, whether for intimidation or defence etc.

A very good question. The use of deadly force is a very serious matter. It should ONLY be invoked when no other option is truely viable and you believe that either your life, or the life of another is in mortal danger if you do NOT use deadly force. That said, if you understand deadly force and when it should be used, the moment you decide to draw a firearm you have made a no-sh*t decision to take a human life if that is what is required for your own survival or the survival of another. You're not intimidating. You're not going to shoot to wound. You are going to kill in order to stay alive. If you are not willing to do that, then there is no use in drawing your weapon. And pulling a firearm with the intent to intimidate in a life and death scenario is folly...it is likely to get yourself or someone else seriously injured or killed. Not to mention pulling a firearm in a situation where deadly force is NOT called for may, in fact, escallate the situation into one that DOES result in someone getting killed. As for people who pull guns being cowards...yes, there are some who are. But regardless, anyone who pulls a gun on another is DANGEROUS and has elevated the situation to a hair's breath away from being tragically deadly. Do NOT pull a gun on someone unless you truely believe it's come down to either his life or the life of yourself or another.

Why are you excluding police officers and military personnel? They're the biggest cowards cause they don't have to face any consequences for their actions

Well I would not call them cowards,but more of a frightened type of person that cannot defend themselves adequately.

An analyst would tell you people who seeks positions of authority (police officers) are people who you described. These people tend to seek these positions to overty attempt to conceal their own personality faults. They also tend to abuse their authority and as a law enforcement officer have found a legal means of doing it.Consider a hypothetical situation where you are confronted in your home by a individual who meant to do you grave bodily harm. Now consider the response time from your local law enforcement? So, to sum it all up, you are basically on your own in regards to your continued existence on this planet. You could theoretically use harse words and maybe toss a banana peel in your defense at your assailant, but that probably is not going to save you. I think an alternate plan (plan B) may be your best alternative.It is often said that it is better to be judged by 12 than carried by six!!!! food for thought.

yes!!! what happended to the days of when there was a problem you beat the piss out of each other getting your aggression out and living to fight another day. these so called thugs and tough guys are so AFRAID of getting a black eye or bloody nose that they cowardly pull guns and think they are a bad ass. a 2 yr old child could kill a ufc champion fighter with a gun. so what does a gun really prove???

so you say if a cop pulls a gun its ok ? but anyone else is a coward? why do cops pull guns? if i feel my person or others are in danger of harm or life from another I would pull my firearm. Police are not the only ones who have this right. The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the police did not have a constitutional duty to protect a person from harm. It’s not just that the police cannot protect you. They don’t even have to come when you call. In most states the government and police owe no legal duty to protect individual citizens from criminal attack. The District of Columbia’s highest court spelled out plainly the “fundamental principle that a government and its agents are under no general duty to provide public services, such as police protection, to any particular individual citizen.”[5] The attackers kidnapped, robbed, raped, and beat all three women over 14 hours. When these women later sued the city and its police for negligently failing to protect them or even to answer their second call, the court held that government had no duty to respond to their call or to protect them. Case dismissed. carry a gun and if need be USE IT